Press with vibrating die for forming powder metal blanks



R. P. SEELIG April 17, 1951 PRESS WITH VIBRATING DIE FOR FORMING POWDER METAL BLANKS Filed Aug. 24, 1945 Y Z W M? M J a m p/M w x r 6 Patented Apr. 17, 1951 PRESS WITH VIBRATING DIE FOR FORMING POWDER METAL BLANKS Richard P. Seelig, Elmhurst, N. Y., assignor, by mesne assignments, to General Bronze Corporation, Garden City, N. Y., a corporation of A New York Application' August 24, 1945, Serial No. 612,454

This invention relates to powder metallurgy. An object of the invention is to provide a device which will compress powder metal into desirable forms for sintering in such manner that the freezing or sticking of the powder metal blanks in the dies during the compression operation will be avoided.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a device of the above character in which the air in the interstices of the powder metal in the die will be facilitated in its escape during the compression operation, thus reducing to a great extent the amount of air present in the compressed blank.

A still further object of the invention resides in a method of compressing powder metal blanks so that the blanks will be prevented from sticking or freezing in the die and the amount of air entrapped in the blank will be greatly reduced, with the result that the blank will be of an increased density. a

It is a still further object of the invention to providea method of, and means for, vibrating the powder metal in such manner and at such time in relation to the compressive action applied thereto that the powder metal particles will be assisted in their flow into the various parts of the die cavity, thus making it possible to produce satisfactory powder metallurgy parts having various surface configurations. v

With these and other objects in view, such as will appear as my description progresses, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts described in the specification, illustrated in the drawings and recited in the claims.

In the drawings I have illustrated one mechanism for carrying out the method above referred to and one embodiment of the mechanical phase of my invention, but it is to be understood that the compression of the blank, while vibration is maintained, may be accomplished by electrical, hydraulic or combined electrical and hydraulic means, as well as by the mechanical means illustrated.

In the drawings:

Figure I is a vertical sectional view of an embodiment of my invention, parts thereof being shown in elevation;

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2-2 in Figure 1, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Describing now the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, the device includes a vertical movable die adapter I that is mounted for upward and downward movement 2 Claims. (01. 78-05) on the guide pins 2, being limited in its upward movements by the abutments 2'. This adapter 1 is normally urged upwardly by cushioning springs 3 which are seated in sockets 4 'in the adapter and 'in complemental sockets 5 in the base 6.

The die adapter I is adapted to receive a die 1 having a powder metal'receiving cavity 8 of the form corresponding to the form of the powder metal blank that it is desired to produce;

The powder metal in thecavity 8 is indicated at 9 in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.

A reciprocating lower punch in is suitably mounted for vertical reciprocations and a complemental upper punch l l is mounted in a holder I2, which holder I2 and the upper punch II are mounted for vertical. upward and downward movements.

In order that the adapter I may have vertical rapid reciprocations imparted to it and conse the cavity 8,-1 have provided a bell crank, l3 pivoted at l4 andhaving a bifurcatedend 15,

the bifurcations of which are pivoted at [B on opposite sides of the adapter I. The other arm ll of the bell crank lever extends upwardly and is adapted to successively engage with the teeth I8 of the ratchet NJ to which ratchet is imparted continuous rotation by means of a suitably driven shaft 20 on which it is mounted. The toe portion 2i of the arm I! of the bell crank lever is kept in constant engagement with the teeth of the ratchet by means of relatively light springs 22 which are attached to the bifurcations of the bell crank lever l3 and to suitable fixed points at their lower ends.

Thus after the powder has been placed in the cavity 8 of the die I the adapter I will have vertical reciprocations imparted to it by the cooperation between the bell crank lever l3, the ratchet l9 and the relatively heavy springs 3, and these reciprocations will be quite independent of any movement of the lower punch In as well as of the upper punch II.

This upper punch is actuated in its vertical up and down movement by a lever 23 pivoted at 24 on a suitable fixed point and provided with a cam roller 25. This cam roller rides upon a cam 26 fixed to the shaft 20, the rotation of which cam moves the upper punch H upwardly and downwardly through the medium of the lever 23.

It will be seen that the powder metal is compressed between the lower and upper punches l0 and H respectively, and during this compression the adapter I and the die I will be given vertical reciprocations without interference of the dies, with the result that the air entrapped in the powder metal will tend to escape from the mass during various stages of the compression operation, and the metal particles will flow into the form of the die cavity. It is to be understood that the operating mechanism may be so designed that these vibrations may be imparted to the die either during the entire compression operation or during part thereof.

Moreover, it will be understood that the powder metal that is being pressed between the two punches will have relative movement in respect of the die so that the tendency of the blank to adhere to the walls of the recess 8 of the die will, to a great extent, be overcome with the result that the blank may be freed from the die cavity after the completion of the compression operation without disfigurement of the blank.

In carrying out my method of forming a powder metal blank, after the powder metal has been inserted in the cavity of the die I vibrate the die in the direction of the compressive action which I subsequently apply. During this vibration the powder metal is compressed by opposing forces acting in substantial alignment with the vertical vibrations of the powder metal mass. These operations may be accomplished by the mechanism I have described above, or, as I have pointed out, by electric or hydraulic mechanisms or a combination of any of them.

While I have illustrated and described a particular form of my invention it is to be understood that many of the details thereof may be varied within the skill of the art, and I therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise form illustrated and described, except in so far as that limitation is made necessary by the claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a press for forming powder metal blanks, a resiliently supported die having a die cavity for the reception of powder metal and open at both ends, means including complemental relatively movable punches operable in the die cavity for compressing said powder metal Within said die cavity by forces applied longitudinally of the die cavity, means for moving said punches relatively within said die cavity, and means for vibrating said die during said compression operation for moving the same relative to the powder metal being compressed between the punches, said last mentioned means including a mechanism for positively moving said die in one direction and a yieldable device for moving said die in the opposite direction.

2. In a press for forming powder metal blanks, a resiliently supported die having a die cavity for the reception of powder metal and open at both ends, means including complemental relatively movable punches operable in the die cavity for compressing said powder metal within said die cavity by forces applied longitudinally of the die cavity, means for moving said punches relatively within said die cavity, and means for vibrating said die during said compression operation, said means including a mechanism for positively moving said die in one direction and a yieldable device for moving said die in the opposite direction.

RICHARD P. SEELIG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,481,806 Montgomery Jan. 29, 1924 1,541,358 Johnson June 9, 1925 1,984,363 Dietricks Dec. 18, 1934 2,193,413 Wright Mar. 12, 1940 2,198,612 Hardy Apr. 30, 1940 2,311,358 Baily Feb. 16, 1943 2,398,227 Hubbert Apr. 9, 1946 

